Brighton binmen want to bid for citys rubbish contract

21 Jun 01
Brighton's refuse collectors could take over the multi-million pound contract to clean the city's streets following the removal of private sector waste firm Sita.

22 June 2001

Union members held talks on June 19 and 20 to see if they could raise enough funds to table a bid for the contract.

GMB union official Gary Smith said workers were in consultation with a local recycling co-operative called Magpie about pursuing a joint bid for the contract.

'If we pull this off it will be revolutionary,' said Smith. 'We have the moral authority and the skills to deliver the contract.'

Up to £8m may have to be found for a successful bid as unions claim the current contract is under-invested by about £1.5m.

The search for a new contractor follows Sita's agreement last week to pay Brighton and Hove Council £3m to get out of its £6.7m contract three years early.

The council has set a September deadline for Sita to leave the contract. In the meantime, it will put the contract out to tender.

Council officials met representatives from Sita and the GMB this week to map out what will happen with the contract over the next three months.

Sita's removal follows an industrial dispute earlier this month over an attempt to bring in new working practices. These were resisted by the unions and led to a strike and rubbish piling up in the town as waste went uncollected.


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